“I am delighted to announce this appointment,” said Dr. Summerby-Murray. “Dr. Butler comes to us with the vision and experience to lead the Saint Mary's community in the realization of our Academic Plan. He also brings a wealth of institutional knowledge as a former Dean of Science and professor of Astronomy and Physics at Saint Mary’s.”

Dr. Butler has been the Dean of Science and a professor in the Department of Physics at Carleton University since 2010. Under his leadership, the Faculty of Science made significant progress in developing new programs, increasing enrolment, attracting external funding, and advancing and building a stronger research profile.

Prior to his role at Carleton, Dr. Butler spent 17 years as a professor in the Department of Astronomy and Physics at Saint Mary’s. A tireless advocate for Saint Mary’s University, he was Dean of the Faculty of Science from 2006 to 2010 and Department Chairperson from 2003 to 2006.

Malcolm Butler received his PhD in Theoretical Nuclear Physics from the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) in 1988 and his honours B.Sc. in Theoretical Physics and Applied Math from McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, graduating summa cum laude in 1983. Prior to arriving at Saint Mary’s in 1993, he worked as a research associate with TRIUMF National Laboratory and as an assistant professor and research scientist with the Department of Physics at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ontario.